Mailinglist Archive: opensuse (3666 mails)

[Stan Glasoe <SRGlasoe@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

On Friday 18 March 2005 5:03 am, Kevanf1 wrote:
> I will admit that I used to take PC's apart all the time without a
> static band.  But they weren't mine, they belonged to the Uni I worked
> at.  Now, I always put one on when I'm working on my own or friends
> PC's.  I also leave the PC plugged in.  Switched off of course :-)
                                         ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
> Kevan Farmer

NEVER leave the system plugged in to power. Too many newer systems have 
Wake-On-LAN or Wake-On-Ring functions with current flowing through the 
system mainboard and add-in cards. You stand a real chance of damaging the 
system from AC power this way. AC ground is not the same as grounding 
yourself to dissipate static electricity. Don't confuse the two, please.

Unplug it from the power source and ground yourself and parts to the 
machine. Its equalizing the static potential that is key. Dissipating 
static through proper static mats/stations would be even better but that is 
still equalizing the static charge to all surfaces and components, static 
bags, etc.

Also, compressed air or vacuum cleaners can generate tremendous amounts of 
static electricity depending on the materials they are made of. Standard 
plastic vacuum parts are VERY bad for electronic components whether blowing 
or sucking dust and debris out of a system because they tend to generate 
static electricity and it IS going to dissipate somewhere. With my luck I 
don't even THINK about doing this... 

Sorry if you know this but many people do not so I'd rather warn about 
hazards than have people let the magic smoke out...

Stan